Hand dryer



March 30, 1948.

H. w. McLECKlE HAND DRYER Filed March 29, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /IO .A.O.

awe/Wm cilia March 30, 1948. w, C C 2,438,762

HAND DRYER Filed March 29, 1944 3 SheetsSheet 2 /Z 4/ I J, I 54 51' mm HWM'ZecZz'e March 30, .1948. H. w. MCLECKIE HAND DRYER Filed March 29, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet Patented Mar. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND DRYER I Harry McLeckie, Naples, Te'x'.-

Application March 29, 1944, Serial No. 528,583

This invention relates to a dryer for the hands and aims to provide a structure capable of general use, and manufacture according to particular uses and places, and especially aims to provide a structure which is adapted for manufacture in a form particularly facilitating use by doctors, dentists or others who frequently have to wash and dr their hands.

It is aimed to provide a relatively compact construction; one which is durable and eflicient, one using electric energy and a fan whereby the air is recirculated and one which may have novel means for adjusting the size of the hand opening, novel controlling switch means, a novel signal lamp, and novel means for radiating ultra-violet rays.

The more specific objects andadvantages will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of one form of the invention, being partly broken away to disclose details; I

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the plane of line 33 of, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an electric diagram of one arrangement of electrical parts;

Figure 5 is an electric diagram of another arrangement of the electrical parts;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the plane of line 6-6 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, of a second form of the invention;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a third form of the invention;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section corresponding to Figure 2 taken through a final modified form; and

Figure 10 is a plan view of the louver structure of Figure 9. 7

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, and first to the form of Figures 1 to 6, I provide a suitable base In which may be relatively heavy and of metal if desired. Suitably fastened to such base is a housing or casing generally designated 1 I which may be of any suit able size and configuration. It is also to be borne in mind that the casing as well as any of the other parts, may be finished or ornamented in any desired colors, materials or otherwise.

3 Claims. (01. 34-87) Interiorly, the casing is preferably insulated at any portions or portion thereof as by means of asbestos at I2, in order to confine heat therein.

The casing at one portion thereof has an extension as at l3.

At any suitable point of the casing, as atone end of the extension 13, it has an opening M for the intake of air. Such air'is adapted to be drawn through a heater. [5 which'isof hollow form and has its openings aligned therewith. This heater may be ofany suitable construction, usually being electric and having a heated coil l6 embedded in a body of insulation at [1, and thus in effect being a muflie. The air is drawn through the heater l5 by an impeller or fan 18 located in an auxiliary casing l9 and rotated through the medium of an electricmotor as at 20. Extending from the auxiliary, casing I9 is a bottom wall 2|. It will be noted that the auxiliary casing [9 as at wall 2| and the'motor- 2 0, have rubber blocks or cushions 22 disposed between them and the base [0, to absorb vibration and promote quiet operation,

Above the wall 2|, I provide a parallel wall 23 which together with the wal1f2 lforms a duct 24 through which air is adapted to be discharged by the fan l8 as suggested by thearrows in Figure 2.

Above the wall 23, I provide, an enclosure or guard 25 preferably made of metallic gauze and at its lower edge fastened in a U-shaped retainer 26 in turn also fastened to such wall 23. Such guard is approximately closed except for an opening 21 through one end through which the moist hands are adapted to be inserted into. the guard for drying by the heated air. Such heated air from the duct 24 passes into the guard through slots or louvers 2B in the plate 23, aided by inclined baffles 29 in suchlouvers and progressively increasing in depth in the direction away from the fan l8.

The air passing through the guard .25, returns to the auxiliary casing and fan through a duct 30 formed by a wall 3| within the casing, the turned portion of which has an opening 32 therethrough communicating indirectly with the fan and auxiliary chamber 19. The air returning through opening 32 passes directly therefrom to the mufiie or heater l5. and then to the fan and auxiliary chamber 19. This structure under the action of the fan provides for recirculation of the heated air and for the drying of the moisture therefrom, and from the hands.

Opposite the opening 21 of the guard 25, the end wall of the casing has an opening 33 aligned therewith. This opening may be of any suitable V for -heating purposes, 7 to .enable more rapid heat- .ing .of the parts vhetvveen intervals ofidle'ness.

size and the casing wall about the same may be of plastic or any other suitable material having a reinforcing and finishing bead 34 on the outside. In instances where the dryer is used repeatedly by one or several persons, it is advisable to provide means to adjust the size of the opening 33, for conservation of heat. This result may be attained by providing a pair of slidable closuresi35mounted by:a frame 36 on :the inner surface o'f theend wall-of the casing having-opening 33. These closures may be moved toward each other or away from each other by manipue, lating knobs 31 thereon.

The electric circuit is normally open but adapted to be closed by a switch 38. in,;c,oimbina5 through contact of the hands'being driedwith an insulated portion or rod 4|. Such actuator is rma r cte thr u he me i i a biasings pring AZ QEXteriorly of the-casing, .a pilot lamp 13 having .ardlglobe .or shade. preferably, Lis l provided while .interiorly of .the casing I may provide a constantly illuminated lamp 44 flf he lectricall parts arefl'shovvn "in diagram in ifiligurel, Jfroin which it will "be .noted that .t heliioil. f6 finithelcircui t is variable. -It fwill,

valsoilie Lnote'd- 'lthaltiljinolude an ultra-violet" m emnamigie ip erstructureat 45 withinthe housing '11 emming :plurposes. suitable .switch.arrangement linay be used and can be wired to semasemaste iswueh 46. .Iffidesire'd, it can also; be 'wiredsoastolserve as .a duplicate switch -vto .be (used instead of switch '38. Figure \shows lswit'ch ld6.shuntedacross .38. This "feature is optional with the. manufacturer. As shown .in

:Figureifigtit iised as .a duplicate or v auzgiliar yeswitch in .the. model In o'st .isuitable'l 'ior dentistsp e a V In Figure "5, I hqwieisomewhat ldi'iiere'nt .a'rrangemenhoi .thepartsin 'lectrical diagram and it Iisl additionally indicatedlthatlthe switch may be .aiootedperableswitchA J It is 2 to lbe .Iunderstoed .that

Tlmay mind ithe ,driyer'sg-fonany usegthatjisgeneral or specialized-randmay mountsthfelsame in anydesired .way- For .exampl'alwhere' the structures are built "for use -in 'Bullman ..cars, they are fastened to and behind'ia .wall df theear'as ,at "48.. p The .dryer .is generally Ldesignatedlllla; :an'd -has the 'hand-lreciving ,opening at 33a. 1A registering Qpningis .i forined fin therwa l 48 Land :11; has an outwardly LeXtendingr-im 4'9; .JAn ornamental and finishingflplate "it! also. having an opening therelfhrdugh registering with. Qthat at 3.3 it, bears againstlther'fim 49 enmwan '48,,an'd has, screws5 I passed therethroughjthrough wall 48 andinto the I v i '60 lnflFigureiBiljihave shownialformof'the invencasing Lila.

.tion generally designated "52 which is attached to a wall 153. 'Air ispadapted 'Lto be taken intothe structure througha suitable open'ingor openings;

' vention, ,particular'ly -With respect to. a combined air outlet and dr'ipigpan ;inij.the 'iorm, o'f,aj,pan generally designatedfifii 'Thispan may be made of. any-.suitablematerial, for instance copper, and

secured in place .in .any suitable manner. iSuch part 56'has an open'neck at5T'for'ming the inlet *I-claim as my invention: 7 A15Z hand-dryer of the class described having a tion with an actuator 39 pivoted at .40 within the casing and movable against the switch" neckfforfthe'irile't orairz' 4 for the air as received from the fan or blower 18. The top wall of the pan-shaped structure 56 is open to provide for passage of the air therethrough. At intervals, such open top is provided 5 with louvers or bafiles 29a, arranged like those at 2-9 and progressively increasing in width in a direction away from the fan, like those at 2'9. Otherwise, the parts are essentially the same as in the fprecedingiormbf sF igures 1 to 6 and the 10 same reference rharactersjlhaveibeen applied.

Various changes may be resorted to provided '1 1 they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention. a

} casing saidcasing being. open for insertion of the 20 dischargeitawithin ,theguarda wall atthesbase- V "of .itliej guardmountin'g the 'sam'efsaid wallfbein open ,andihavin'gllouver's itherethrough 'to,,,dir,e'ct theiairfinto tlieguardfsaid wall "iormin inart .off a panish'ape'd jstru Qure, (said structure .having' a i2. v2xstructure.orrheslassuestripeci pcbmpr sine a casing, a heater in saidca'sing. ajhlower, means to operate-the blowert draw air over-theheat a guard "within the easing into. lwhieli-fthenh'ands 0 are adapted to be disposed, a;suppQrt-jf.orj the guar'd having openings ttherethrougmuthe airjbeing adapted to ltravel beneath. Isaid' JSlmPLQrt, through the same. jandlin't'o 'ith'e guard, and 1a baiile wallpextending from fadj-acentfthe base of '35 the guard to'the top thereo'i'and eombin'in'g iwith a Wall of the casing vto ,f 0rm a returnconduitfor the air, said T bafiie .ihaving.iajfusshaped, piortion provided with an opening adjacent the "intake ,si'deo'f'thejblower. 1 i 1; '40 '3. A structure of the class described eompriising a casing, a heater in said icas'ingpafblower, means to operatethe blower'to'draw airovertthe Theater. algua'rdwitliinfthe .o'asing intdwhich the hands are adapted tobedisposed,Qassllppolftffor '45, the guard having openings therethrollglhrLthe air being 'adaptedjtoiltravel beneath ssa'idfsupport,

through thesameand'intothe guardabflffle .wall extending from .adjacent thebas'eoi the guard to the .top,,theredf,..and"combining with; awall of the casing to form a" return .coh'dflit .Ior' 'the air, said return conduit havingfsan opening itherein located adlacentlthe intake. side of thlblower, whereby the fan swill recirculate air within the casing the -heatinjg means" .being electric #and tubulaninieanslto. operatelthe fanlbeing electric, and a normally open switchflfor Tthe .circuitmf said .motor-and heater extending into .gthe giuard for operation by the hands. 1

g QHARRYIIW. x REEERENCES CITED 7:.

The following reference r s are of record n the es lea ji srmt r Date I Numb r otsstatesmana e;

l'iands into the interior, a guard interiorly of the Number Name Date Roberts Apr. 10, 1945 Corbett Apr. 24, 1945 FOREIGN. PATENTS Country Date Germany July 18, 1921 Germany Oct. 17, 1921 Germany Mar. 5, 1932 France 'J an. 21, 1929 

